Baker facing anger over 4.30am move

Jul 8 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

NORTH bakery giant Greggs is facing a backlash from city centre residents over plans to sell food until 4.30am.

Following successful pilots in Sunderland and Leeds, where late-night revellers have been filling up on pies and pasties, bosses want to extend opening hours at their Grainger Street shop in Newcastle from 9pm to 4.30am from Monday to Saturday.

It emerged yesterday that a similar bid to open the shop opposite the Central Station in Neville Street until 4.30am has already been approved after nobody objected to Newcastle Council about the plans.

But people living in flats on Grainger Street, who say their sleep is already disturbed by drunks at night, are challenging the latest application, along with Newcastle Council’s environmental protection manager.

Because the shop falls within the council’s Cumulative Impact Zone of bars and takeaways, it is up to Greggs to prove that its late-night opening will not add to existing problems of litter and rowdiness in the city centre.

Steve Norman, Greggs North East’s shop fitting manager, has told the city council there will be a security guard on hand throughout the extended hours.

The application, which will be heard on Tuesday next week, also details CCTV at the shop, a panic button for staff trained to deal with “difficult” customers, and notices asking customers to be quiet.

In addition, food will not on be display to customers and can only be handed over the counter by staff.

Three residents have objected, along with another who has lodged concerns through city centre councillor Joanne Kingsland.

They say that despite having installed triple glazing and wearing earplugs, their sleep is still disturbed by people leaving bars and congregating in the street, and by fighting, vomiting and urinating in the street and in doorways.

Comments include, ‘Living here is already a nightmare,’ and that ‘The high noise levels are already excessive and it is impossible to get a full night’s sleep’.

Newcastle Council’s environmental protection manager Peter Sweet has asked for the application to be refused on the grounds of potential public nuisance. He said: “I have no doubt that the premises itself will not result in disturbance directly, but it is customers lingering in the area awaiting taxis etc which would have a negative impact on the area.”

Northumbria Police said it would not be making any objections to the application at next week’s hearing.

Licensing officer Sergeant Ian Booth said the force had been monitoring a late-night Greggs in Leeds city centre, which has operated with a security guard and no food on display, and that it had been working well.

He said there had been no problems with the other late-night pilot shop, in Sunderland, which is open from 9pm to 2am every Thursday and from 9pm to 4am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Greggs yesterday declined to comment.

Customers lingering in the area awaiting taxis etc ... would have a negative impact on the area